Softball

Matadors Pull Out 4-3 Victory over Portland State

TEMPE, Ariz. -
The Cal State Northridge softball team (3-2) defeated Portland State, 4-3, Sunday afternoon in its final game at the Kajikawa Classic. Junior Hannah Fraijo earned her second win of the season, pitching an effective six innings, and freshman Carly Wade earned her first save of the season in closing the door on the Vikings.

In her first start of the season, Fraijo was very effective for head coach Tairia Flowers. She needed only 84 pitches to get through 6.1 innings of work. She scattered six hits and one walk while allowing three earned runs.

After a tough off-season mired by arm surgery, Sunday's win was a nice reward for Fraijo.

"I finally felt like myself again out there in the circle," Fraijo said. "It was hard to come back from the surgery and be out for so long, but today I felt very comfortable out there."

Wade slammed the door shut on a Viking comeback, recording the final two outs of the game with the tying run in scoring position. She got a fielder's choice and struck the final out looking to end the game.

"It felt great to go in there in and finish the game," Wade said. "Seeing Hannah's performance gave me a lot of confidence and I knew I could do it. I just needed to stay within myself."

The next CSUN batter, Tracy Allen, lifted a long fly ball into left field that the Viking fielder misjudged, resulting in a two-base error and sending Sloniker to the plate. Mikayla Thielges added a sac fly in the inning to score Carlsen.

Sloniker and Mosier teamed up yet again in the fourth inning. Mosier walked and then stole her second base of the game. With two outs, Sloniker drove a single into left-center and plate Mosier for what would be the game-winning run.

Portland State got a run across in both the second and third. The Vikings then connected on a pinch-hit home run in the top of the seventh before Wade closed the door.

Mosier ended the contest with three stolen bases, tying a school record. She also had a run and a walk for CSUN.

The Matadors return to action next week when they participate in the UNLV Louisville Slugger Desert Classic. In Las Vegas, CSUN will face Portland State, Utah State, BYU, Hawai'i and Nevada.